How do you set out, what sort of quests do you take early on and which next, when do you allign with a faction and how do you develop your army and later on your own faction?
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Slaves from the get go, no quests, until I can lead enough to take out a town and become a king.
I am now at day 40 and didn't do very much. Have a small army of 43 soldiers amongst which 2 companions. Did not pledge for a faction yet altough I will very soon go for the Rhodoks*.
So far I have done quests for Village elders and Guild masters and brought a few leters for nobles to other places. Just took the quest for saving a nobleman's brother from the dungeons, lit the fire in a village to distract the guards and went on my way to the city when the war between them and the Saranids* ended. Not sure what to do now.
*No idea what the correct spelling of the factionnames is.
So far I have done quests for Village elders and Guild masters and brought a few leters for nobles to other places. Just took the quest for saving a nobleman's brother from the dungeons, lit the fire in a village to distract the guards and went on my way to the city when the war between them and the Saranids* ended. Not sure what to do now.
*No idea what the correct spelling of the factionnames is.
I'm at about the same stage you are - 45 men, a few companions and at the point where I need to make the big decision, do I declare for one of the kingdoms, start raiding one of the kingdoms, or continue more slowly doing quests, perhaps try to marry someone and take it from there.
Essentially once you reach the 30+ party size you no longer get much renown from killing bandits as the odds are always in your favour, so you need to start winning fights against other lords which will net you more renoun and hence build up your capacity to lead a larger army. Renoun ties in to how many men you can lead so your goal for the first part of the game is working on building this figure up until you're able to take a city/castle.
Essentially once you reach the 30+ party size you no longer get much renown from killing bandits as the odds are always in your favour, so you need to start winning fights against other lords which will net you more renoun and hence build up your capacity to lead a larger army. Renoun ties in to how many men you can lead so your goal for the first part of the game is working on building this figure up until you're able to take a city/castle.
When you have to lite a fire to create distraction does this mean raze a nearby village or does it pop up es a dialogue option?
Probably a bit of an exploit but I start with a small party fight a bit, earn cash and travel around the world for about a month looking for companions.
I train untill agillity 12 and riding 4 buy a war horse!
When I have most of those I want, I kick all my soldiers from my team travel north and fight sea raiders nearly alone for alot of renown. around 220+ renown I sign up with a king (that was a mistake)
I should have first build a army, conquered a castle and than either start my own nation or join someone.
bte I prefer a mix of vaegir and swadian armies with sometimes few sarranids or the other horse nation.
also I always add the old guy witha name starting with a A to my party. He has high skill in Engineer and trade.
I train untill agillity 12 and riding 4 buy a war horse!
When I have most of those I want, I kick all my soldiers from my team travel north and fight sea raiders nearly alone for alot of renown. around 220+ renown I sign up with a king (that was a mistake)
I should have first build a army, conquered a castle and than either start my own nation or join someone.
bte I prefer a mix of vaegir and swadian armies with sometimes few sarranids or the other horse nation.
also I always add the old guy witha name starting with a A to my party. He has high skill in Engineer and trade.
Interesting. Might want to try it out myself and kick most of my soldiers out of my force.
I would like to know how do you make money. Currently I can have 64 soldiers, have 2 fiefs and a castle, I'm vassal of the Nords. The problem is that the castle garrison and my army takes all the money from me (the two fiefs (one has a mill) are in the border with the Vaegirs so they're always being raided). I can only make sizeable loads of cash in tournaments. Is it normal and/or did I evolved my troops too much? I have 6 Mamlukes, ~20 Rhodok Sharpshooters, ~15 Huscarls and loads of Nord things.
Should I wait till the evolved ones die or get money in another way?
Should I wait till the evolved ones die or get money in another way?
I gain money by putting a lot of skill points into looting at the game start, and when it's about 4-5, I start looting enemy villages. Easy 3000+ gold.
Oh, I don't loot as my companions go "that's bad pal" about that. I'll consider looting then
I started out as a trader until I had about 25k, then I used the money to raise an army and married a Swadian nobleman to become a noble - 200 days later and that's pretty much where I'm still at
Did a lot of quests for important nobles before managing to become one (being King Harlaus' personal mailman sure gave me a good standing) My plan right now is to particiate in the wars, raise my power within the kingdom and eventually claim the title of Queen of Swadia (and calradia, of course)
Will probably need more renown first
I still use trade as my primary income, trading Iron within Swadia can give me a profit of 1-200%, which is nice. During times of peace with the nords, I trade fish to the easterners, which gives MAD profit (prices can go as high as 120, and it's almost free (around 20) when buying) Sadly trading gets harder when you're aligned, I'm thinking of moving on to looting once my army grows larger. Currently the only thing that keeps me afloat is the ransoms from captured nobles
Did a lot of quests for important nobles before managing to become one (being King Harlaus' personal mailman sure gave me a good standing) My plan right now is to particiate in the wars, raise my power within the kingdom and eventually claim the title of Queen of Swadia (and calradia, of course
) Will probably need more renown first
I still use trade as my primary income, trading Iron within Swadia can give me a profit of 1-200%, which is nice. During times of peace with the nords, I trade fish to the easterners, which gives MAD profit (prices can go as high as 120, and it's almost free (around 20) when buying) Sadly trading gets harder when you're aligned, I'm thinking of moving on to looting once my army grows larger. Currently the only thing that keeps me afloat is the ransoms from captured nobles
I usually start stealing cows from villages (you need some starting points in loot skill to do it), easy money and little consequences. With 2 or 3 villages you can get enough money to buy some starting equipment, ideally:
- a jousting lance to enslave instead of kill
- a relatively fast (but cheap) horse to be hard to hit (at lower levels, any hit will kill you)
- a bow or crossbow (depending what you want to focus on)
- if possible, a large bag of arrows/ bolts
I focus first on increasing levels, meaning working alone or few troops (less than 5), and just killing looters and sea raiders... It is relatively easy to kill 10-15 sea raiders/ looters with horse+lance+bow/crossbow and experience will go up really fast by doing so
then look for tournaments (easy cash and renown), and I start to recruit key NPCs (medic, pathfinder, trainer), then more sea raiders for loot and more important to equip NPCs (sea raiders have some decent weapons and armor
then increase party size, focusing in cavalry to move fast and to pick the fights I want to pick
then keep killing looters, sea raiders, deserts, etc and doing tournments until I have enough money (20K maybe?)
And only then I join a faction . I avoid doing petty quests (like delivering letters, because rewards are really small and then I will waste time looking for the guy that gave me the quest).
- a jousting lance to enslave instead of kill
- a relatively fast (but cheap) horse to be hard to hit (at lower levels, any hit will kill you)
- a bow or crossbow (depending what you want to focus on)
- if possible, a large bag of arrows/ bolts
I focus first on increasing levels, meaning working alone or few troops (less than 5), and just killing looters and sea raiders... It is relatively easy to kill 10-15 sea raiders/ looters with horse+lance+bow/crossbow and experience will go up really fast by doing so
then look for tournaments (easy cash and renown), and I start to recruit key NPCs (medic, pathfinder, trainer), then more sea raiders for loot and more important to equip NPCs (sea raiders have some decent weapons and armor
then increase party size, focusing in cavalry to move fast and to pick the fights I want to pick
then keep killing looters, sea raiders, deserts, etc and doing tournments until I have enough money (20K maybe?)
And only then I join a faction . I avoid doing petty quests (like delivering letters, because rewards are really small and then I will waste time looking for the guy that gave me the quest).
i used bandit bands of various types to get XP and goods to sell.
then i started helping the sarranid throne claimant to start a civil war (i say civil war - i managed to convice 1 guy to change sides to the claimant from the usurper, and he had his ass handed to him and lost his fief). i basically use the claimant as an mobile, sword-wielding casus belli against the sarranids so that i can loot villages and smaller enemy armies at will.
i am nominally allied to the rhodoks and was briefly the lord of a city while they were at war with the swadians, but they accepted a white peace and i lost my fief.
my character is essentially a ginger psychopath bandit king with aspirations.
a bit like a condottieri.
then i started helping the sarranid throne claimant to start a civil war (i say civil war - i managed to convice 1 guy to change sides to the claimant from the usurper, and he had his ass handed to him and lost his fief). i basically use the claimant as an mobile, sword-wielding casus belli against the sarranids so that i can loot villages and smaller enemy armies at will.
i am nominally allied to the rhodoks and was briefly the lord of a city while they were at war with the swadians, but they accepted a white peace and i lost my fief.
my character is essentially a ginger psychopath bandit king with aspirations.
a bit like a condottieri.
Not done much? I was past day 250 when I started to get a 40+ war band...
It really depend on which character I play, basically I adapt my start to the character roleplay then try to build by doing what I think he would do.
Basically some of my character I actually refuse to do some quest even if I need the money badly. For how does those guild master dare to ask my knight character to deliver wine or cow, they merit a glove slap to the face, then excuse themselves or have a duel to the death.
Basically some of my character I actually refuse to do some quest even if I need the money badly. For how does those guild master dare to ask my knight character to deliver wine or cow, they merit a glove slap to the face, then excuse themselves or have a duel to the death.
Well...I haven't actually got Warband yet...but I imagine I would start similarly to how I did in vanilla. There are actually two approaches, depending on whether you want to play a "good" or "bad" character.
For a "good" character, you start off with a small party (ie., yourself) and trade. A lot. One of your first "purchases" should be one of the trade-skill heroes (if you haven't given yourself trade skill), along with one of the "scout" heroes (path-finding, tracking, etc.). When they start levelling up, make sure to give them at least a point or two of riding, and the necessary agility, so they can ride a horse and let your party move much faster on the world map. Keep trading, and kit yourself and your team out (continuing to hire heroes until you have a full party--that's 9, at least in vanilla, since there are two sets of 8 which mutually dislike each other). Once you've done that (and it will probably take a few tens of thousands of denars for decent equipment), start fighting bandits--not the huge parties, but ones not more than 12-15 people. It's better to start with smaller bands of looters and what not (which usually, but not always, spawn near the training grounds), and remember that you can easily level up once or twice going through the training grounds and then sparring with your companions (which can help them level up, too). Fight in tournaments from time to time, but don't spend a lot on bets in case you get screwed (get weapons you're not skilled with) or just plain lose, since you don't have a high skill level and toughness yet. Once your renown is up fairly high, start hiring soldiers to assist you. Recruits are recommended. Having at least one trainer character by this point is highly recommended, as is giving yourself trainer regardless. This will make levelling them up go much more quickly. Start taking quests, but don't be too afraid to refuse/abandon ones that are beyond your ability to complete. At this point, with around 20-40 soldiers, you should think about pledging yourself to a king, and you should really start hunting down bandits wherever you see them. Beyond that I cannot go (haven't gotten there yet!)
For an evil character, it's much more straightforward, with less trading. First, you should focus on trading and doing some quests (the Fed-Ex ones) for kitting yourself out and getting the other heroes. Then, try to fight in some tournaments or kill some bandits to get some renown, enough to be hired as a mercenary leader by one of the factions. When that happens, build a little army and start raiding enemy villages. Helps if you're Khergits or have good on-map speed (but your small party should be able to outrun most lords). This is really profitable. Use all the money to kit out all your men and yourself in the best gear you can find, improve your fiefs (once you get enough renown to establish yourself) and so on. Keep improving your renown. Again, I haven't gone beyond this point.
For a "good" character, you start off with a small party (ie., yourself) and trade. A lot. One of your first "purchases" should be one of the trade-skill heroes (if you haven't given yourself trade skill), along with one of the "scout" heroes (path-finding, tracking, etc.). When they start levelling up, make sure to give them at least a point or two of riding, and the necessary agility, so they can ride a horse and let your party move much faster on the world map. Keep trading, and kit yourself and your team out (continuing to hire heroes until you have a full party--that's 9, at least in vanilla, since there are two sets of 8 which mutually dislike each other). Once you've done that (and it will probably take a few tens of thousands of denars for decent equipment), start fighting bandits--not the huge parties, but ones not more than 12-15 people. It's better to start with smaller bands of looters and what not (which usually, but not always, spawn near the training grounds), and remember that you can easily level up once or twice going through the training grounds and then sparring with your companions (which can help them level up, too). Fight in tournaments from time to time, but don't spend a lot on bets in case you get screwed (get weapons you're not skilled with) or just plain lose, since you don't have a high skill level and toughness yet. Once your renown is up fairly high, start hiring soldiers to assist you. Recruits are recommended. Having at least one trainer character by this point is highly recommended, as is giving yourself trainer regardless. This will make levelling them up go much more quickly. Start taking quests, but don't be too afraid to refuse/abandon ones that are beyond your ability to complete. At this point, with around 20-40 soldiers, you should think about pledging yourself to a king, and you should really start hunting down bandits wherever you see them. Beyond that I cannot go (haven't gotten there yet!)
For an evil character, it's much more straightforward, with less trading. First, you should focus on trading and doing some quests (the Fed-Ex ones) for kitting yourself out and getting the other heroes. Then, try to fight in some tournaments or kill some bandits to get some renown, enough to be hired as a mercenary leader by one of the factions. When that happens, build a little army and start raiding enemy villages. Helps if you're Khergits or have good on-map speed (but your small party should be able to outrun most lords). This is really profitable. Use all the money to kit out all your men and yourself in the best gear you can find, improve your fiefs (once you get enough renown to establish yourself) and so on. Keep improving your renown. Again, I haven't gone beyond this point.
I never bother with the guild master or village elder quests(unless I own the town/village)
When the game starts I just to as many tournaments as possible.
Sometimes at that point I'll start attacking a faction so I can take a castle, some times not. It depends on what type of army I want to have. I have to alter my strategy for warband I've been noticing though, It is harder to upkeep a big army within a castle so once you join a faction and arent getting everything you conquer it can be tough.
When the game starts I just to as many tournaments as possible.
Sometimes at that point I'll start attacking a faction so I can take a castle, some times not. It depends on what type of army I want to have. I have to alter my strategy for warband I've been noticing though, It is harder to upkeep a big army within a castle so once you join a faction and arent getting everything you conquer it can be tough.
I am playtesting the political side of the game as I see it as the big addition of this iteration.
I've adopted the following path:
Run around to choose what kingdom to start with and build up a starting band.
Once chosen, start soldiering for the King.
Get to help lords and the King as much as possible through quests and help into battle.
Once a sufficient number is befriended, talk to them in private to know their vision of the power exercise, their allegiance to their King. If the appropriate companion, you can get an explicit report on the internal situation of the Kingdom.
Write a short list of lords likely to defect to my side when starting a new Kingdom. They should have in common a vision of the power exercise and their allegiance be loose.
Choose the bride in accordance to the shortlist of lords.
Become a Vassal to the King.
Once enfieffed, start to probe surrounding enemy lords and repeat the same scheme to developp a shortlist of neighbouring lords likely to defect. Treat them in accordance when in war and in peace.
When a marshall, use your connection to King to distribute the land grabbing according to my projected best interests. Placing my men around me and leaving anything far from the core of my future empire to the King.
Once right to rule and prestige are impaired with the position of a King, break oath, reap fruits.
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Current game: started as a bow player which warrants a certain inability to influence deeply open field battles and offensive sieges (defensive siege is still largely influenced)
Soldiered four months for the Vaegir King during which I get enough insight to know who is and a strong relationship to the King.
Started to court two ladies who corresponded with future plans.
Turn a vassal, help to conquer Narra in the South. Ask for it to be given to a friend of mine, a Rhodox turncoat. Was given.
Accepted to enfieffed with the close to Narra Kadush hamlet. This left me with a fief south of Vaegir Kingdom at the border with Kerghit empire.
Was beaten to the race to marry one of the ladies. Had not enough close quarter impact to risk a duel.
Was left with the other lady.
Did my duty as a vassal by joining campaigns. Used them and feasts to further my plan of shortlist. Developped bounds with my fief.
Married the lady. Later, when the father in law was marshall, got him to besiege Malaburgh castle. Requested it from King. Was awarded. This gave me the marche with Kergit.
Started to use the wife and others to play the internal bickering game in order to shape a front of loyalists vs dissidents.
At this point, more and more, the opportunities to developp bounds with surrounding enemy lords were favoured over the vassal duties. Every time the neighbouring kingdoms were at war with a common enemy, I refused to join the Vaegir campaign to run the wastes with either the Khergit or Sarranid lords I placed on my shortlist.
When at war with the Khergit/Sarranid, everytime a friendly lord was captured, I let him go.
When a marshall, I conquered Ughun castle. Had it handed to my father-in-law.
I also chose to fragment the Vaegir kingdom by capturing far away castles and tried to get them handed to loyalists.
I expanded North of Narra by seizing two castles (Reindi and another) got them to my men.
Later, seized the castle on the frontier between Sarranid and my soon to be kingdom.
At this point, I took local lords in my military incursions to help neighbour enemy lords. Dont know if that influenced their relationship to the helped lords.
The rest soon to come.
I've adopted the following path:
Run around to choose what kingdom to start with and build up a starting band.
Once chosen, start soldiering for the King.
Get to help lords and the King as much as possible through quests and help into battle.
Once a sufficient number is befriended, talk to them in private to know their vision of the power exercise, their allegiance to their King. If the appropriate companion, you can get an explicit report on the internal situation of the Kingdom.
Write a short list of lords likely to defect to my side when starting a new Kingdom. They should have in common a vision of the power exercise and their allegiance be loose.
Choose the bride in accordance to the shortlist of lords.
Become a Vassal to the King.
Once enfieffed, start to probe surrounding enemy lords and repeat the same scheme to developp a shortlist of neighbouring lords likely to defect. Treat them in accordance when in war and in peace.
When a marshall, use your connection to King to distribute the land grabbing according to my projected best interests. Placing my men around me and leaving anything far from the core of my future empire to the King.
Once right to rule and prestige are impaired with the position of a King, break oath, reap fruits.
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Current game: started as a bow player which warrants a certain inability to influence deeply open field battles and offensive sieges (defensive siege is still largely influenced)
Soldiered four months for the Vaegir King during which I get enough insight to know who is and a strong relationship to the King.
Started to court two ladies who corresponded with future plans.
Turn a vassal, help to conquer Narra in the South. Ask for it to be given to a friend of mine, a Rhodox turncoat. Was given.
Accepted to enfieffed with the close to Narra Kadush hamlet. This left me with a fief south of Vaegir Kingdom at the border with Kerghit empire.
Was beaten to the race to marry one of the ladies. Had not enough close quarter impact to risk a duel.
Was left with the other lady.
Did my duty as a vassal by joining campaigns. Used them and feasts to further my plan of shortlist. Developped bounds with my fief.
Married the lady. Later, when the father in law was marshall, got him to besiege Malaburgh castle. Requested it from King. Was awarded. This gave me the marche with Kergit.
Started to use the wife and others to play the internal bickering game in order to shape a front of loyalists vs dissidents.
At this point, more and more, the opportunities to developp bounds with surrounding enemy lords were favoured over the vassal duties. Every time the neighbouring kingdoms were at war with a common enemy, I refused to join the Vaegir campaign to run the wastes with either the Khergit or Sarranid lords I placed on my shortlist.
When at war with the Khergit/Sarranid, everytime a friendly lord was captured, I let him go.
When a marshall, I conquered Ughun castle. Had it handed to my father-in-law.
I also chose to fragment the Vaegir kingdom by capturing far away castles and tried to get them handed to loyalists.
I expanded North of Narra by seizing two castles (Reindi and another) got them to my men.
Later, seized the castle on the frontier between Sarranid and my soon to be kingdom.
At this point, I took local lords in my military incursions to help neighbour enemy lords. Dont know if that influenced their relationship to the helped lords.
The rest soon to come.